Door lock devices



Sept. 21, 1965 F. ERNEST 3,207,546

noon LOCK nmvxcns Filed Oct. '7. 1963 1 N VEN TOR. F250 522N537" United States Patent 3,207,546 DOOR LOCK DEVICES Fred Ernest, 5468 Alvern Circle, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,245 12 Claims. (Cl. 292-34113) The present invention relates to lock devices, and more particularly to devices of the rotary bolt type used for automobile doors.

Door lock devices of the type disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,629,620 and 2,860,905 embody a rotary bolt and housing carried by the door which coact with the teeth of a striker or keeper and a spring pressed Wedge or shoe carried by the vehicle body or door pillar to maintain the bolt in engagement with the striker teeth and hold the door against vertical movement. It is found that the spring exerts insufficient force on the wedge to prevent vertical and other movement of the door, resulting in its rattling. This undesirable result is emphasized by wear of the engaging surfaces of the housing and wedge, particularly where the wedge is made of relatively soft material, such as nylon or other synthetic resin.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a door lock device of the type above indicated, in which the spring force acting on the wedge is increased substantially, thereby eliminating door movement when the door is in closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door lock device of the type above indicated, in which resistance to wear of the wedge is increased considerably, thereby eliminating door rattling that would otherwise result.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that can be mounted on existing door locks of the rotary bolt type to supplement the spring force acting on the striker assembly wedge and to increase the wear resistance of such wedge. In fact, wear on the wedge by the door housing member is eliminated since the device acts as a shim on the wedge engaged by the door housing.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a leaf spring capable of being mounted on existing door locks of the rotary bolt type to function as an intervening wear take-up and wear resisting shim between the wedge and door housing members, and to supplement the force of the spring acting on the wedge, the leaf spring coacting with the striker or keeper frame in such manner that its spring force is substantially greater than a direct proportion to its extent of deflection.

This invention possesses may other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of a striker or keeper assembly and rotary bolt device cooperable therewith, with the door in open position;

FIG. 2 is a view of the parts disclosed in FIG. 1 following movement of the door to fully closed position;

FIG. 3 is an isometric projection of a leaf spring forming part of the door lock apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A typical automobile door lock construction of the rotary bolt type is illustrated in the drawings, including a keeper assembly secured to the vehicle body or door pillar 11 and a cooperating rotary latch mechanism 12 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 "ice suitably mounted on the end wall of an automobile door 13.

The keeper or striker assembly 10 includes a frame 14 of generally C-shape having spaced upper and lower arms 15, 16 connected by an intermediate portion or strut 17. The intermediate portion and upper and lower arms may be reinforced by a strengthening Web or base 18 integral therewith and forming the inner vertical wall of a cavity 19 provided by the C-shape of the frame. In the specific device illustrated in the drawings, the upper arm 15 of the striker or keeper frame carries a slidable shoe or wedge 20, made of a suitable material, such as nylon, which has a bore 21 therethrough to receive a pin or guide rod 22 mounted in the frame, the Wedge being urged in an outward direction by a helical compression spring 23 encompassing the guide rod and bearing against the inner end 24 of the wedge and the inner wall 25 of the frame. The pin 22, spring 23 and major portion of the wedge 20 are disposed within an upper recess 25 in the frame, the upper surface of the wedge being slidable along a companion upper bearing surface 26 of the frame and the lower surface 27 of the wedge being tapered, inclining in an upward direction outwardly of the frame.

The upper inner portion 28 of the rear wall of the intermediate strut 17 of the frame extends substantially vertically, its lower portion merging into a tapered or curved wall surface 29, which, in turn, merges into a lower wall surface 30 of the lower arm 16 of the frame and defining the lower portion of the recess or cavity 19.

Mounted upon the lower arm 16 of the striker or keeper frame is a toothed insert 31 having a pair of upwardly extending bolt engaging teeth 32. Screws 33 extend through the toothed insert member 31 and through the lower arm 16 into the end pillar wall of the vehicle body 11 to secure the insert member to the frame and the lower portion of the latter to the body. Similarly, one or more upper screws 34 secure the upper portion of the frame 14 to the pillar wall of the automobile. If desired, the insert 31 can be integral with the frame 14.

A rotatable bolt 35 having external teeth 36 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 37 secured in a bolt housing member 38, which is suitably secured to and projects from the jam face or end wall 13 of the automobile door. When the door is swung to a closed position, the teeth 36 of the rotatable bolt ride over the striker teeth 32, the upper surface 39 of the bolt housing or casing 38 engaging the tapered surface 27 of the sliding shoe or wedge 20 to retain the door against vertical movement. Shifting of the door to its fully closed position will result in the housing 38 moving the wedge 20 inwardly against the force of its spring 23, the spring pressed wedge tending to urge the housing 38 and its rotatable bolt 35 toward the companion bolt engaging teeth 32 to maintain them firmly coengaged. The bolt 35 is retained against reverse rotation to prevent the door from being opened in a known manner by the usual detent mechanism employed in door locks of the type disclosed. Since such detent mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it has not been illustrated in the drawings.

As a result of use of the door lock mechanism, wear occurs on the shoe or wedge 20, which is made of much softer material than the bolt housing 38. As a result, the spring force acting on the wedge and forcing the rotary bolt 35 downwardly into engagement with the stationary teeth 32 is diminished. At that, the spring force is relatively low, even when the device is new. The production of Wear of the wedge 20 and even on the coengaging top surface 39 of the bolt housing permits vertical movement of the door when in its closed position, and its consequent rattling.

The present invention overcomes the aforenoted difficulties and actually increases the available spring force. A generally U-shaped spring member 50 is mounted within the recess or cavity 19 of the striker or keeper frame 14. This leaf spring extends around the inner portion of the recess or cavity to permit entry of the housing 38 and rotary bolt 35 thereinto. In the specific keeper assembly disclosed in the drawings, the slidable shoe or wedge 20 is at the upper portion of the cavity 19 and the insert 31 at its lower portion. When used in this environment, the spring assembly includes a spring arm 51, the lower portion 52 of which is of arch shape, being adapted to bear against the lower curved wall 29 of the intermediate frame portion 17 and also extending against the lower arm 16 of the frame, to which the lower portion of the spring arm may be suitably anchored, as by abutting a shoulder or anchor portion 53 of the spring arm against the toothed insert member 31. The lower portion of the spring arm is disclosed as having notches 54 on opposite sides of a projecting arm portion 55, so that the same spring can be used with both right and left hand keeper assemblies. In lieu of relying upon the shoulder or anchor portion 53 to engage the toothed insert 31, and thereby prevent movement of the lower portion 52 of the U-shaped leaf spring 50 with respect to the frame 14, a suitable fastening means, such as a screw (not shown), may extend through the lower portion of the spring into the frame arm 16 at the bottom of the cavity 19.

The arch portion 52 of the spring merges into an upper relatively straight portion 57 disposed along the inner wall 28 of the cavity, which, in turn, merges into the inner finger 58 of a U-shaped saddle portion 59 of the spring, the inner finger folding downwardly over the upper end of the arm portion 57. This inner finger 58 merges into an intermediate Web 60 curved to conform to the tapered surface 27 of the wedge 20, the web merging into an outer finger 61 extending outwardly and in the same direction as the inner finger 58 and having a central notch 62 therein to permit the bifurcations of the finger to straddle or extend on opposite sides of the pin 22,.the

outer finger extending against the outer surface 63 of the,

slidable shoe or wedge, with the inner finger engaging the inner surface 24 of the wedge.

The spring 50 is so proportioned that when its saddle portion 59 is slipped over the shoe or wedge 20, its anchor portion 53 engages the toothed insert 31 with the intermediate arch portion 52 of the spring engaging the wall 29 of the recess or cavity 19, the leaf spring 50 being under tension and tending to urge the wedge 20 in an outward direction when the door 13 is open, supplementing the force of the helical spring 23. The web 60 of the spring extends over the tapered surface 27 of the Wedge 20 and functions as a shim to be engaged by the bolt housing or casing 38, instead of the latter directly engaging the wedge itself.

When the door 13 is moved to closed position, the teeth 36 of the rotatable bolt 35 engage the teeth 32 of the keeper assembly, the bolt housing 38 bearing against the web 60 of the spring and urging the wedge 20 inwardly against its helical spring 23 and also inwardly against the spring force of the leaf spring arm 51. As the housing 38 moves to its fully closed position, the arch portion 52 of the arm, in effect, fulcrums against the inner wall 29, 28 of the housing recess, the arm deflecting in the nature of a cantilever beam with increasing spring force in resisting inward movement of the Wedge 20, constantly urging the wedge 20 and the shim 60 covering its tapered surface in an outward direction against the housing 38 to force the latter downwardly and retain the bolt teeth 36 in firm engagement with the keeper teeth 32, thereby insuring against movement of the door and its rattling. Thus, the spring force of the helical spring 23 is supplemented to a considerable degree by the spring force of the cantilever beam arm 51. This latter spring force increases greater than in proportion to the extent of deflection of the spring arm 51 as the wedge 20 moves inwardly along the guide pin 22 and upper bearing surface 26, since the arch portion 52 of the arm is, in effect, flattened against the inner wall 29, 28 of the housing, decreasing the effective length of the spring arm and thereby greatly increasing its resisting spring force. Thus, as disclosed in FIG. 1, the effective length of the spring arm 51, with the door in open position, extends from the bearing point of the arm against the inner Wall at x to the wedge 20; whereas, with the door in closed position, such as disclosed in FIG. 2, the effective length of the spring arm extends from its uppermost bearing point against the wall at the pointy to the wedge, this latter arm being of considerably shorter extent than the effective length of the arm disclosed in FIG. 1. During the inward deflection of the arm, as the rotary bolt 35 and housing 38 are moved inwardly of the cavity 19, the lower portion of the arm 51 remains fixed, being anchored or shouldered against the lower wall 30 of the cavity and the toothed insert member 31.

In addition to greatly enhancing the spring force, the leaf spring 50, being made of a suitable metal, such as spring steel, has its web 60 contacting the metallic bolt housing or casing 38, rather than the relatively soft Wedge 20 engaging the bolt housing or casing. The result is a substantial decrease in wear on the parts since. the co engaging parts are much more wear resistant than the nylon wedge. Accordingly, the tight engagement of the rotary bolt teeth 36 with the keeper teeth 32 will be maintained over a much longer life of the automobile body and its door, door movement being eliminated when the door is in closed position.

The leaf spring device is usable in connection with existing door locks of the rotary bolt type, requiring no changes in the structure of the latter. It is shaped and designed in such fashion as to supplement the force of the helical spring 23 on the wedge to positively prevent rattling of the door when in closed position, to minimize wear on the parts, and to compensate for wear that does occur through a greater spring force tending to urge the wedge outwardly and retain the rotary bolt teeth against the keeper teeth.

I claim:

1. In a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and including spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said opening toward said wedge, the combination therewith of a generally C-shaped leaf spring in said opening having a first portion adjacent and substantially fixed with respect to said other arm, a second portion engaging said wedge, and a third portion interconnecting said first and second portions and engaging said vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on said wedge resisting its inward movement along said one of said arms.

2. In a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said opening toward said wedge, said wedge having a tapered surface facing said other arm, the combination therewith of a generally C-shaped leaf spring in said opening having a first portion engaging and substantially fixed with respect to said other arm, a second portion engaging said wedge and disposed over said tapered surface, and a third portion interconnecting said first and second portions and engaging said vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on said wedge resisting its inward movement along said one of said arms.

3. In a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said opening toward said wedge, said wedge having a tapered surface facing said other arm, the combination therewith of a generally C-shaped leaf spring in said opening having a first portion engaging and substantially fixed with respect to said other arm, a second portion including inner and outer fingers engaging inner and outer ends, respectively, of said wedge, and a web interconnecting said fingers and disposed over said tapered surface, and a third portion interconnecting said first portion and inner finger and engaging said vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on said wedge resisting its inward movement along said one of said arms.

4. In a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and including spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally Vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said opening toward said wedge, the combination therewith of a generally C-shaped leaf spring in said opening having a first portion adjacent and substantially fixed with respect to said other arm, a second portion engaging said wedge, and a third portion interconnecting said first and second portions and engaging said vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on said wedge resisting its inward movement along said one of said arms, said third portion and vertical frame portion being so shaped that said third portion progressively engages said vertical frame portion closer to said one of said arms as said wedge moves inwardly of said opening to decrease the effective length of said third portion.

5. In a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and including spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms and along a guide rod mounted in said frame and extending through said wedge, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said Opening toward said wedge, said wedge having a tapered surface facing said other arm, the combination therewith of a generally C-shaped leaf spring in said opening having a first portion adjacent and substantially fixed with respect to said other arm, a second portion including inner and outer fingers engaging inner and outer ends, respectively, of said wedge, and a web interconnecting said fingers and disposed over said tapered surface, said outer finger having a notch receiving said guide rod, and a third portion interconnecting said first portion and inner finger and engaging said vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on said wedge resisting its inward movement along said one of said arms.

6. In a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said opening toward said wedge, said wedge having a tapered surface facing said other arm, the combination therewith of a generally C-shaped leaf spring in said opening having a first portion engaging and substantially fixed with respect to said other arm, a second portion including inner and outer fingers engaging inner and outer ends, respectively, of said wedge, and a web interconnecting said fingers and disposed over said tapered surface, and a third portion interconnecting said first portion and inner finger and engaging said vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on said wedge resisting its inward movement along said one of said arms, said third portion and vertical frame portion being so shaped that said third portion progressively engages said vertical frame portion closer to said one of said arms as said wedge moves inwardly of said opening to decrease the effective length of said third portion.

7. In a keeper structure having a general C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and including spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing .an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said opening toward said wedge, the combination therewith of a leaf spring in said opening having a first portion substantially fixed with respect to said frame and a spring arm engaging said wedge to resist inward movement of said wedge along said one of said arms.

8. In a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting body and spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, a wedge projecting into said opening and movable along one of said arms, and teeth on said other arm projecting into said opening toward said wedge, said wedge having a tapered surface facing said other arm, the combination therewith of a leaf spring in said opening having a first portion substantially fixed with respect to said frame, a second portion engaging said wedge and disposed over its tapered surface, and a spring arm interconnecting said first and second portions to resist inward movement of said wedge along said one of said arms.

9. A leaf spring adapted to be mounted in a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame that includes spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting said arms, the keeper structure also including a wedge projecting into the opening and movable along one of the arms, and teeth on the other arm projecting into the opening, the leaf spring being of generally C-shape and adapted to be disposed in the opening and having a first portion adapted to be fixed with respect to the other arm, a second portion adapted to engage the wedge, and a third portion interconnecting the first and second portions and adapted to engage the vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on the wedge resisting its inward movement along the one frame arm.

10. A leaf spring adapted to be mounted in a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame that includes spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting the arms, the keeper structure also including a wedge projecting into the opening and movable along one of the arms, and teeth on the other arm projecting into the opening, the wedge having a tapered surface, the leaf spring being of generally C-shape and adapted to be disposed in the opening and having a first portion adapted :to be fixed with respect to the other arm, a second portion adapted to engage the wedge and to be disposed over its tapered surface, and a third portion interconnecting said first and second portions and adapted to engage the vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on the wedge resisting its inward movement along the one arm.

11. A leaf spring adapted to be mounted in a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame that includes spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting the arms, the keeper structure also including a wedge projecting into the opening and movable along one of the arms, and teeth on the other arm projecting into the opening, the wedge having a tapered surface, the leaf spring being of generally C-shape and adapted to be disposed in the opening and having a first portion adapted to be fixed with respect to the other arm, a second portion including inner and outer fingers adapted to be disposed in engagement with inner and outer ends, respectively, of the wedge, and a web interconnecting said fingers and adapted to be disposed over the tapered surface of the Wedge, and a third portion interconnecting said first portion and inner finger and adapted to engage the vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on the wedge resisting its inward movement along the one arm. 7

12. A leaf spring adapted to be mounted in a keeper structure having a generally C-shaped frame that includes spaced upper and lower generally horizontal arms providing an opening closed at one side by a generally vertical portion rigidly interconnecting the arms, the keeper structure also including a wedge projecting into the opening and movable along one of the arms and also along a rod fixed to the frame and extending through the Wedge, and teeth on the other arm projecting into the opening, the leaf spring being of generally C-shape and adapted to be disposed in the opening and having a first portion adapted to be fixed with respect to the other arm, a second portion including inner and outer fingers adapted to engage inner and outer ends, respectively, of the wedge, and a web interconnecting said fingers and adapted to be disposed over the tapered surface of the wedge, said outer finger having a notch adapted to receive the rod, and a third portion interconnecting said first portion and inner finger and adapted to engage the vertical frame portion to provide a spring force on the wedge resisting its inward movement along the one arm.

References Cited by the Examiner,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/45 Endter 292--341.13 X 8/52 Ernest 292--34l.13 X 2,642,301 6/53 Endter 292341.13 2,860,905 11/58 Wiese 29234l.12

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. 

7. IN A KEEPER STRUCTURE HAVING A GENERAL C-SHAPED FRAME ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A SUPPORTING BODY AND INCLUDING SPACED UPPER AND LOWER GENERALLY HORIZONTAL ARMS PROVIDING AN OPENING CLOSED AT ONE SIDE BY A GENERALLY VERTICAL PORTION RIGIDLY INTERCONNECTING SAID ARMS, A WEDGE PROJECTING INTO SAID OPENING AND MOVABLE ALONG ONE OF SAID ARMS, AND TEETH ON SAID OTHER ARM PROJECTING INTO SAID OPENING TOWARD SAID WEDGE, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A LEAF SPRING IN SAID OPENING HAVING A FIRST PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME AND A SPRING ARM ENGAGING SAID WEDGE TO RESIST INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID WEDGE ALONG SAID ONE OF SAID ARMS. 